Recommended Guidelines for Responsible Computing at the University of Delaware
(Draft – September 21, 1991)

Prepared by staff in Computing and Network Services,
University of Delaware

• 1.Preface
• 2. Definition of Terms
• 3. Policy for Responsible Computing Use at The University of Delaware
• 4. User Responsibilities
• 5. System Administrator Responsibilities
• 6. Misuse of Computing and Information Resource Privileges
• 7. User Confidentiality and System Integrity
• 8. Penalties for Misuse of Computing and Information Resource Privileges
• 9. Academic Honesty
• 10. Works Consulted

5. System Administrator Responsibilities

This document uses the phrase system administrator to refer to all of the following University personnel:

• Staff employed by a central computing agency such as Computing and Network Services whose responsibilities include system, site, or network administration.
• Staff employed by other University departments whose duties include system, site, or network administration.

A system administrator’s use of the University’s computing resources is governed by the same guidelines as any other user’s computing activity. However, a system administrator has additional responsibilities to the users of the network, site, system, or systems he or she administers:

• A system administrator manages systems, networks, and servers to provide available software and hardware to users or their University computing.
• A system administrator is responsible for the security of a system, network, or server.
• A system administrator must take reasonable and appropriate steps to see that all hardware and software license agreements are faithfully executed on all systems, networks, and servers for which he or she has responsibility.
• A system administrator must take reasonable precautions to guard against corruption of data or software or damage to hardware or facilities.2
• A system administrator must treat information about and information stored by the system’s users as confidential.

As an aid to a better understanding of responsible computing practices, all departments that own or lease computing equipment are encouraged to develop “Conditions Of Use” documentation for all systems that they operate and to make these “Conditions Of Use” documents available to users. These documents should be consistent with the University of Delaware Policy for Responsible Computing Use (reprinted on page 1 of these Guidelines) and should be approved by the department’s administrative officer or other individual designated by that administrative officer.

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